Limitless: How RN-Turned-Lawyer Trez Quinn Stretches His Skill Set

When Untress (Trez) Quinn went to nursing school, he never imagined being a lawyer. Now, more than 15 years into his practice, he couldn’t imagine a better marriage of his skill set in medicine and law.

A U.S. Air Force veteran and military medic, Trez graduated salutatorian from Lutheran School of Nursing in St. Louis in 1994. He worked as a registered nurse for more than 10 years and has been involved in the health care industry for over 25 years in total. In addition to providing direct patient care, he served as a director of medical-surgical services, as well as a supervisor of interventional radiology and health care administrator.

More than 10 years later, at the age of 30, he decided to pursue a legal degree. Trez went to law school because of his passion for fairness – even more fundamental than justice – and to maximize his potential to make a difference. In 2006, he earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University with a Certificate in Health Law.

From there, he spent roughly 15 years in private practice at St. Louis area law firms, including serving as team leader for a prior firm’s Correctional Medicine industry team. In 2020, just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shuddered the U.S., he joined Armstrong Teasdale as a partner and was instrumental in opening the firm’s office in Edwardsville, Illinois.

Trez has positioned himself as a key player in Edwardsville, the seat of Madison County, Illinois. The County is a popular venue for plaintiffs’ litigation – and often referred to as a top asbestos litigation destination and judicial “hell hole.” But the reputation doesn’t bother him. “Many of us learned to practice in Madison and St. Clair Counties,” said Trez. “We know the judges and they respect us, and it gives us even more credibility as a firm.”

Today, Trez’s extensive medical knowledge and experience – across medical and surgical settings, including interventional radiology, ventilator rehabilitation, emergency room and cardiothoracic and neurological intensive care units – are assets he uses in the successful representation of his clients.

A seasoned trial lawyer, Trez often represents clients in disciplinary hearings in health care settings, health care internal investigations, and the defense of medical malpractice and other catastrophic loss lawsuits. He has defended multiple complex litigation cases in both state and federal courts involving civil rights, product liability, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. He has also represented health care clients under investigation by federal and state agencies and in the review of internal policies to conform with best health care practices. Trez’s defense of high stakes litigation matters in both Illinois and Missouri have included matters involving mental health/suicide, neurological, obstetrical, neonatal, pediatric, cardiothoracic, gastroenterological and other traumatic injuries and losses.

Since joining the firm, he’s also had the opportunity to shift his practice a bit, just as he shifted from nursing to law. “The firm has given me the space and platform I need to grow my book of business and grow the firm,” said Trez. “I’ve also been able to shift my practice a bit, and because we are a full-service firm and have lawyers across a broad range of areas, it’s easier to shift if you want to. You can learn other areas and have mentors at-hand that can help you move into those new areas.”

And that ability to constantly evolve is not lost on him. “Change makes a lot of people uncomfortable, but to me, it’s part of my professional and personal growth,” said Trez. “I enjoy having the opportunity to stretch and continuously improve and build upon the skills I’ve learned throughout my career.”

Armstrong Teasdale is proud to have a number of former RNs and medical professionals in offices across the country who leverage their respective skill sets and dedication to quality care in counseling clients in health care and life sciences, medical malpractice, mass tort and catastrophic loss, and over 70 other service areas.